Trade Career Comparison

Which trade career fits you best?

HVAC Technician

Install, maintain, and repair heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems.

$59,810/yr median

$34,320$80,820

Much Faster Than AvgModerateUnion: ModerateEntry: Moderate

Training Path

3-5 year apprenticeship or trade school

Environment

Indoor/Outdoor

Outlook

Much Faster Than Avg (+9%)

BLS Code

49-9021

Pros

✓Growing demand driven by new construction, aging systems, and increasing focus on energy efficiency and indoor air quality.
✓Year-round work — heating season and cooling season overlap to keep you busy, unlike some seasonal trades.
✓Good entry point through trade school programs that can get you working in under two years, faster than many apprenticeship-only trades.
✓Diverse career paths — you can specialize in residential, commercial, refrigeration, controls, or energy auditing.
✓Technology-forward trade — modern HVAC involves digital controls, building automation systems, and smart thermostats, keeping the work interesting.

Cons

✗Working in extreme temperatures is part of the job — you fix furnaces in 120-degree attics in summer and repair rooftop units in freezing winter winds.
✗On-call and emergency work is common, especially for service techs — furnaces die on the coldest night of the year, and that is when you get the call.
✗Refrigerant handling requires EPA Section 608 certification and involves working with chemicals that can cause frostbite or displace oxygen in enclosed spaces.
✗Attic and crawl space work is unavoidable in residential HVAC — expect tight, uncomfortable, and sometimes hazardous spaces.
✗The field is evolving rapidly with new refrigerants, heat pump technology, and efficiency standards, requiring ongoing education throughout your career.

What the Life Is Like

HVAC technicians typically start their day early, either at a shop loading their service van or heading directly to a job site. Service techs often run 3-5 calls per day in residential work, diagnosing and repairing furnaces, air conditioners, and heat pumps. Installation crews may spend several days on a single job, running ductwork and setting equipment. Commercial techs work on larger rooftop units, chillers, and building automation systems.

The schedule is generally 40 hours, Monday through Friday, but overtime is common during peak seasons — summer and winter. Many companies offer on-call rotation, where you carry a phone and respond to emergency breakdowns after hours. The pay for on-call and overtime can significantly boost your income, but it does cut into personal time. Work culture varies — larger companies feel more corporate, while small shops tend to be more informal and family-like.

The physical demands are moderate to heavy. You will carry equipment up ladders, work in tight mechanical rooms, and spend time on your knees connecting ductwork. The mental side is significant too — diagnosing a system that is not working requires understanding airflow, refrigerant cycles, electrical circuits, and controls. Many techs say the diagnostic puzzle-solving is what they enjoy most about the job.

How to Get Started

Complete a trade school HVAC program

Community colleges and vocational schools offer 6-month to 2-year HVAC programs that cover fundamentals of heating, cooling, refrigeration, and electrical systems. This is the fastest path into the field. Look for programs accredited by HVAC Excellence or PAHRA.

Get your EPA Section 608 certification

Required by federal law to handle refrigerants. Most trade schools include this in their curriculum, but you can also take the exam independently. Get the Universal certification (covers all equipment types) rather than just Type I or II.

Apply for entry-level positions or an apprenticeship

With a trade school certificate, you can apply for helper or junior tech positions with HVAC contractors. Alternatively, the UA and Sheet Metal Workers unions offer formal HVAC apprenticeships that combine work with classroom training over 4-5 years.

Gain field experience and pursue NATE certification

After 1-2 years of field experience, pursue NATE (North American Technician Excellence) certification. It is the industry's most recognized credential and can lead to higher pay and better job offers.

Specialize and advance

As you gain experience, consider specializing in areas like commercial refrigeration, building automation systems, or energy auditing. These specializations command higher pay. With enough experience, you can become a lead technician, supervisor, or start your own HVAC business.

Felony Record & Licensing

Varies by State

HVAC licensing requirements vary significantly. EPA 608 certification does not screen criminal history, but state trade licenses may.

Check your state's licensing board before enrolling in a program. Rules vary significantly.

Training Funding & Support

Pell Grants Are Available Again

As of July 2023, the FAFSA no longer asks about drug convictions. The FAFSA Simplification Act restored Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students. If a past drug conviction kept you from financial aid before, you can apply again.

WIOA Workforce Funding

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds free job training, career counseling, and supportive services (transportation, work clothes, childcare) for people reentering the workforce. Contact your local American Job Center (careeronestop.org) to see what's available in your area.

Ban-the-Box & Fair Chance Hiring

Over 37 states and 150+ cities have "ban-the-box" or fair chance hiring laws that prevent employers from asking about criminal history on job applications. Many require waiting until after an interview or conditional job offer. These laws are expanding rapidly — check your state's specific rules.

Licensing laws vary by state and change frequently. This is general guidance, not legal advice. Always verify with your state's licensing board before enrolling in a training program.

Data last verified March 2026 · View sources

We verify our data against official sources. Verification dates show when we last checked — they do not guarantee the information is still current. Laws, rates, and thresholds can change at any time. Always confirm critical information at the official source or with a qualified professional.

National Employment Law Project (NELP) — Fair Chance Hiring

General trade accessibility levels for people with felony convictions — categorized as generally-accessible, varies-by-state, often-restricted, or highly-restricted

https://www.nelp.org/policy-issue/criminal-records-and-employment/

Verified March 2026

trade-schools.net — Jobs for Felons

Trade accessibility and reentry employment guidance for specific trades

https://www.trade-schools.net/articles/jobs-for-felons

Verified March 2026

Hire Felons — Reentry Employment Guide

Employer reentry hiring policies and trade accessibility for people with felony convictions

https://www.hirefelons.org/

Verified March 2026

ASE — About ASE Testing

ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certification — no criminal history screening

https://www.ase.com/certification-series/

Verified March 2026

OSHA — Powered Industrial Trucks

OSHA forklift certification — employer-provided, no criminal history screening

https://www.osha.gov/powered-industrial-trucks

Verified March 2026

EPA — Section 608 Technician Certification

EPA Section 608 refrigerant certification — no criminal history screening

https://www.epa.gov/section608

Verified March 2026

Federal Student Aid — FAFSA Simplification Act

Pell Grant eligibility restored for people with drug convictions and incarcerated individuals, effective July 1, 2023; PELL_GRANT_RESTORED_DATE: "July 2023"

FAFSA Simplification Act, Pub. L. 117-103 (2021); 20 U.S.C. § 1070a

https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/fafsa-simplification

Verified March 2026

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) — Ban the Box Legislation

Ban-the-box and fair chance hiring laws — 37+ states + DC + 150+ localities as of 2026; BAN_THE_BOX_STATE_COUNT: 37; BAN_THE_BOX_CITY_COUNT: 150

https://www.ncsl.org/labor-and-employment/ban-the-box-legislation

Verified March 2026

NELP — Ban the Box: U.S. Cities, Counties, and States

Fair chance hiring law coverage — 37+ states + DC + 150+ localities; BAN_THE_BOX_PRIVATE_EMPLOYER_STATES: ["California", "Illinois", "New Jersey", "Washington"]

https://www.nelp.org/publication/ban-the-box-fair-chance-hiring-state-and-local-guide/

Verified March 2026

U.S. Department of Labor — Reentry Employment Opportunities (REO)

WIOA Section 169 workforce funding for reentry — job training, career counseling, and supportive services

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. § 3224; WIOA Sec. 169

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/reentry

Verified March 2026

Legal Information Institute — 18 U.S.C. § 922

18 U.S.C. § 922(g) — federal prohibition on felons possessing firearms, effectively barring law enforcement careers

18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/922

Verified March 2026